The Company was established in 1962 by the late Mr. D. Samson Rajapaksa.
His sons gradually took over the business in the 1970s and presently the
third generation is being strategically absorbed into the group.

The group has now diversified into the manufacture of rubber products,
bicycle tyres and tubes, brushes, garments, packaging and food processing.
Recognising that agriculture is the island's greatest resource, DSI has
ventured into high-tech agriculture with a view to making Sri Lankan
produce compete with similar products in international markets. Roofing
tiles is another product the Group has invested in.

Today, DSI is acknowledged as one of Sri Lanka's best footwear
companies and the brand is said to enjoy the largest market share in the
island. It also claims to be the only fully Sri Lankan owned footwear
company in this position of leadership. The brand has its own network of
over 160 showrooms island-wide and over 2500 consumer service and retail
outlets to support the distribution network. The DSI Samson Group
presently employees over 8000 direct and 5000 indirect employees with
group turnover exceeding five billion rupees in 2001.